Exactly a month after its inauguration, the Eastern Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) will embark on its first assignment of dealing with the backlog of applications for operating licences in the Cacadu District on Monday 21 November 2011.
The entity was inaugurated by Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu on 21 October 2011 in Molteno following its establishment in terms of the National Land Transport Act No 5 of 2009, Section 23 (1), where it is stated that: “Every MEC (responsible for transportation) must establish a Provincial Regulatory Entity within the relevant provincial department, to perform the functions of that entity in the province.”
This group of departmental officials replaces the Operating Licensing Boards. Their role is to:
- Monitor and oversee public transport in the Province
- Receive and decide on applications relating to operating licences
With the festive season around the corner, there is more pressure from public transport operators, particularly the taxi industry, for provincial government to fast-track the processing of applications for acquisition of operating licences.
The Eastern Cape province has a backlog of approximately 600 applications and PRE is expected to expedite the adjudication of these applications in various districts as follows:
- 21 to 22 November - Cacadu District, Old Post Office Building, Goven Mbeki Street, Port Elizabeth (197 applications)
- 23 to 24 November – Amathole District, 32 Dyer Street, Arcadia, East London (172 applications)
- 28 November – Alfred Nzo District
- 29 November – OR Tambo District, 7th Floor, Botha Sigcau Building (58 applications)
- 30 November – Joe Gqabi District
- 1 December – Chris Hani District
